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This study programme is designed for 16 to 19 year olds (aged 19 to 24 for students with an Education, Health and Care Plan).

All courses take place on our Sixth Form Campus, therefore any applicants aged 25+ or over who do not have an Education, Health and Care Plan may be required to complete a DBS check as part of the conditional offer to West Suffolk College. The cost to the applicant for a DBS is £30.00 and the DBS check can be completed through the college.

Please visit our Adult EducationDegrees and Employer section for alternative courses.

About the course

This course is specifically designed to support individuals who are interested in a career within the healthcare sector. The course has a mixture of coursework, exams and work placement to support a rounded education for students who would like to work in client facing healthcare sector.

  • The Health and Social Care course is an imaginative and engaging qualification, the equivalent to studying 2 A-Levels, which provides learners with the opportunity to develop knowledge, understanding and real-life skills surrounding our Health and Social Sector. The course focuses on allowing students to gain a first-hand experience to the healthcare sector through a variety of placements.
  • Additionally, there is a specialised work placement for students that enable them to complete work set projects and work placements in a variety of settings in order to prepare for employment with training or university. This is supported by some of the region's largest healthcare employers such as West Suffolk Hospital and East of England's Ambulance Service and many more.
  • Learners will be supported with their progression towards career goals, and they will be given the opportunity to gain valuable work-related experience to give them the insight and connections with working within the industry.

Entry requirements

4 GCSEs at grade 4 including Math or English

Qualifications

BTEC Diploma in Health and Social Care.

What you'll learn (core modules)

Units include Lifespan Development, Working in Health and Social Care, Physiological Disorders, Nutrition, Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs, Supporting People with Additional Needs.

Benefits, skills and character strengths

This course benefits from extended work placements, work related educational training and career development knowledge. This skills allow you to plan and prepare for lifelong career in this varied and dynamic sector. 

The course supports you to develop character strengths that help prepare you for working life, and positive life experiences.

How will I be assessed?

It is a two-year programme involving units such as working in health and social care, safe food preparation, Anatomy and Physiology for emergency medicine, principles of sociology and more that make this a good mixture of practical and theoretical skills development. Learners will be assessed through a variety of methods; these involve both internal and external assessments/exams which will allow learners to develop their vocational and study skills.

Where is the course delivered? (facilities/classrooms)

We have a number of specialist learning spaces to support your learning, including practical space to develop your placement skills.

Where will the course take me?

This course provides you with a platform to move into the Health and Social Care Sector- this includes job roles including Apprenticeships with NHS trust, university places to study in Social Studies that can gain you employment in Social and Community Care, including Social Worker or Community Development worker. You may also be interested in careers such as working with the East of England Ambulance Trust. and many other job roles within the NHS such as Healthcare support worker or physiotherapy assistant.

Will I need any materials or equipment?

You are required to purchase 2 work placement Shirts for placement.

We recommend you purchase the exam revision guides for the units.

How much will it cost?

Total cost for materials and equipment is £65

I'm interested. What should I do now?

Please join us for an Open Event and apply online.

Days & times

Starting September 2023


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If there is anything more you would like to know about this course, please message us here.

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